Wow! Chen says it?s Dog Year

KYU SHE Sin Nyen means happy New Year in Chinese. With these words the Chinese community in the city celebrated the Chinese New Year on Sunday. The Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the calender.On the Chinese calendar, 2006 is Lunar Year 4703-4704. On the Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on January 29, 2006. But, according to Chinese beliefs, it is the Year of the Dog!

For the local Chinese community, it’s a time for renewal, family gatherings, eating rich food and paying respect to their ancestors and elders said Dr Wu Chi Chen of Model House and added, “Also, what you do and how you act during the period is crucial in determining how the rest of your year will go.”

Chen says, “Large number of  local Chinese community in the search of better career has migrated to Canada in last two years. There were nearly 30 Chinese families a few years back but now the number of families is reduced to single digit.” Fluently speaking in Hindi Chen says, “The younger generation is fluent in Hindi but can understand the Chinese language. 

Moreover youngsters can’t speak Chinese as they are fluent in Hindi and English.”Chinese believe eating the right food, such as black moss seaweed, which is a homonym for exceeding in wealth, and dried bean curd, which is another homonym for fulfillment of wealth and happiness, is a must.Dr Chen says, “We assemble on the eve of new year eve for grand family feast, where we greet each other and enjoy the festivities by having a great dinner together. We cook special Chinese dishes to mark the occasion.”

According to Chinese there are three ways to name a Chinese year:
By an animal (like a mascot). This year is known as the Year of the Dog. There are 12 animal names; so by this system, year names are re-cycled every 12 years.

By its Formal Name (Stem-Branch). The New Year is the year of Bingxu. In the ‘Stem-Branch’ system, the years are named in 60-year cycles, and the Name of the Year is repeated every 60 years. 2006 is the 7th year in the current 60-year cycle.It is Year 4703 by the Chinese calendar.

A few Chinese astrological, zodiac websites believe this year should be considered as the year 4704 for zodiac calculations.

“We celebrate New Year by cleaning and decorating our houses and praying in front of our god. The new year Chinese decoration is Colorful calligraphy called Chun Lian is as popular as those for Halloween or Christmas,” says Dr Wu Maishin.

Chung Fu Nyao running a restaurant at Mahanagar says, “we usually party on New Year eve, on the new year morning we visit the symmetry to take the blessings of our ancestors.

From there we go to Buddha temple where we pray for the prosperity of family. We also worship Pyth Thoison the lord of wealth in China.”

Jude Yep running a beauty parlour in Hazratganj said, “ Chinese are known for their new year celebrations, we prepare new clothes, we enjoy with our families by going on outing and partying.